Killa leaned against the wooden railing of the orphanage steps, arms crossed as he watched Old Joe disappear past the iron gates.
His expression was unreadable, his mind still turning over the conversation he'd just had with Maria.
He had accepted the job at the gym without thinking too much about it, but now that the old man was gone, the reality of it started to settle in.
Cleaning? At some rundown boxing gym? He wasn't sure why he agreed to it. Maybe it was the way Joe had looked at him—like he saw something beyond the troublemaker everyone else did.
Or maybe it was just the promise of watching the fights up close.
He scoffed to himself. Probably the fights.
"Killa."
Sister Maria's voice pulled him from his thoughts. He turned his head slightly, catching sight of her standing a few feet away, arms folded, her face tired but firm.
"I hope you know what you're doing," she said.
Killa raised an eyebrow. "You don't want me to go?"
Maria sighed. "I just don't want you to get any ideas."
"Ideas?"
"You know what I mean." She gave him a knowing look. "This isn't an excuse to get into more trouble."
Killa rolled his eyes, shifting his weight on the steps. "I get it."
Maria studied him for a moment before softening slightly. "Just… be careful," she muttered.
Killa said nothing, but his expression eased.
"Go get ready for school," she finally said, turning back toward the orphanage.
Killa let out a small breath and pushed off the railing, heading inside.
By the time he reached school, the morning air had lost its cool edge, the city already stirring with movement.
The streets were lined with people going about their day, the scent of fresh bread from a nearby bakery mixing with the usual smells of the city.
Killa walked through the school gates, hands shoved in his pockets as always, his sharp eyes scanning the area out of habit. That's when he spotted the kid.
The same boy who had been bullied by Javi.
The kid noticed him too, his eyes lighting up with recognition. He hesitated for a moment before walking up to Killa.
"Uh… hey," the boy said awkwardly.
Killa just looked at him, waiting.
"I just… I wanted to say thanks," the kid muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.
Killa frowned slightly. "For what?"
The boy blinked, caught off guard. "For… you know, stepping in yesterday."
Killa shifted uncomfortably. He wasn't used to this. No one ever thanked him. Usually, he just fought, and that was that.
"…Whatever," he muttered, looking away.
The boy smiled slightly as if he expected that kind of response. "I'm Nico, by the way."
Killa glanced at him. The name barely registered before Nico continued talking.
"You're Killa, right? I've seen you around before. People talk about you a lot."
Killa sighed. "People talk too much."
Nico chuckled. "Yeah, probably."
Silence settled between them for a moment. Killa figured that was the end of it, but then Nico did something unexpected—he started walking beside him.
Killa shot him a glance. "What are you doing?"
"Walking."
Killa narrowed his eyes. "Why?"
Nico shrugged. "I dunno. You seem cool."
Killa let out a short, dry laugh. "You got a death wish or something?"
Nico grinned. "Nah. Just figured it's better than walking alone."
Killa stared at him for a second before shaking his head. "Suit yourself."
The day dragged on, with Nico sticking close the entire time.
At first, Killa found it annoying. The kid was talkative—not in an obnoxious way, but in a way that made it obvious he wasn't used to being around someone like Killa.
He'd ask questions, comment on things happening in class, and make an occasional joke.
Killa, for the most part, ignored him. Or at least, he tried to.
But every now and then, he'd let something slip.
A smirk at one of Nico's dumb jokes. A low grunt of acknowledgment when Nico pointed something out.
A barely noticeable shift in his posture when Nico walked a little too close like he was unconsciously making space but not pushing him away entirely.
Nico caught on quickly.
Killa acted like he didn't want him around, but he wasn't actually making him leave.
By lunchtime, it was obvious to both of them that Killa had, in his own way, accepted the presence of his new shadow.
As they sat outside, Killa leaned against the school wall, arms crossed as he watched students move about.
Nico sat next to him, eating an apple he had taken from the cafeteria.
"You always eat alone?" Nico asked, taking a bite.
Killa didn't answer right away. "Yeah."
Nico chewed thoughtfully. "Why?"
Killa exhaled through his nose. "Because I want to."
Nico smirked. "Nah, you just think you do."
Killa turned his head slightly, giving him a flat look. "And what's that supposed to mean?"
Nico shrugged. "You say you want to be alone, but you're letting me sit here, aren't you?"
Killa narrowed his eyes. "You're really annoying, you know that?"
Nico grinned. "Yep."
Killa stared at him for a long moment before shaking his head. He didn't say anything else, but he also didn't tell Nico to leave.
And for Nico, that was enough.
A/n : I know the chapters are short but eat with me for a bit okay. Share the novel around our groups and let's keep this book on the grind.